News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-12-22
MAGNETIC WIND.
\ Remarkable Subterranean Bel
lows Near q Texas Town.

From the Galveston News.
About 100 east of Ell Paso, near Sierra
Blanco, on the line of the Texas and
Pacific Railway, there is strange phe-
nomenon that has Just come to public
notice. The authority for the state
mcnts about to be made is ex-Gov. John
G. Brown of Tennessee, receiver of the
Texas and Pacific, who visited this city
q few days ago, accompanied by several
officials of the road, including Division
superintendent Judy, in whose juris-
dlctiOn the phenomenon is located. Gov.
Brown and Superintendent Judy told
the story to one or two persons here,
and it has just come out.
About three years ago the Texas and
Pacific Railway Company undertook to
sink an artesian we'll few miles east OF
Sierra Blanco, which is little hamlet
| ninety-fve miles east OF Ell Paso. The
workmen put the pipe down about 600
feet, when suddenly an underground
cavern was struck, the drill dropped
about six feet, and current of air rush
ed up the pipe. Drilling ceased, and
the well was abandoned, the 600 feet of
pipe remaining in the ground, and Civ
ing connection between the surface of
the earth and the subterranean cavity
a quarter of mile beneath.
The phenomenon did not at that time
attract the attention of any one suffici-
emily interested to investigate Recent
ly, however, Superintendent Judy's at
tention was called to it. and his person
al examination and inquiries have devel-
oped peculiar facts and testimony about
tho arf,,1 Ir-on
ped to see it on his way here. Not many
people live near the well, but those who
do reside in the neighborhood of it are
thoroughly acquainted with it. Ever
since it was abandoned, three years ago,
the people near by have been in the
habit of going and sitting about the we'll
in summer to enjoy the cool and invig-
Grating air that rushes up the pipe.
One of the strangest things is the fact
that the current of air Gibbs and flows
like the ocean tides. From 1915 A. NJ.
to 10:15 P. NJ. current of mir rushes
out of the pipe with sound that resem-
bles the noise made by locomotive
blowing off steam, so loud that it can be
heard for forty or fifty yards. At 10:15
P NJ. the overflow of air ceases and o
strong suction sets in, which lasts for
the next twenty-four hours, this ebb and
flow continuing day after day. 1t has
been observed by horsemen that when
ever they get in the neighborhood of the
well strong magnetic forces are felt and
sparks are given off if the horses name
is touched. Recently man from Sierra
Blanco was sitting close to the well, and
on taking out his pocket knife found
nail which he had i'll his pocket clinging
to the knife. He held the knife in the
current of air, and found the magnetic
property greatly increased.
Several weeks ago Superintendent
Judy held his pocket knife in the cur
rent for four minutes, and the knife is
still strongly magnetized from the effect.
The outfowing current of air is believed
to possess remarkable curative proper
ties. Its efficacy is to be tested by ex-
periments upon cases of paralysis and
other diseases. The people who live
near the wonderful well call it the
fountain of youth.